Lansing United's DeJuan Jones, center, is congratulated after scoring the first goal against the Michigan Bucks, Saturday, May 12, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich. The teams played to a 2-2 draw.(Photo: Al Goldis | For the Lansing State Journal)Buy Photo

EAST LANSING — Lansing United enters the Premier Development League Central Conference playoffs this weekend in a bit of a pickle.

The Hoops will be without their leading scorer, Kosti Moni, who suffered a groin injury in Friday's season finale, a 3-0 win over the Dayton Dutch Lions. Without Moni's six goals, coach Nate Miller will call upon a deep stable of offensive threats in order to reach the conference championship game.

And that's where DeJuan Jones comes in.

Jones, the East Lansing High School and Michigan State product, is Lansing's second-leading goal scorer with five goals and one assist in 10 matches. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound forward has 11 goals and nine assists in 53 career matches at Michigan State.

"We've had a lot of tough games this year," Jones said. "It's been an up-and-down season, but right now we're on the up. We've got a lot of momentum right now. We're going up against the No. 1 team so I'm looking forward to that challenge first game.

"No one is picking us to win this game and we're relishing that underdog role and carrying it through the weekend."

Friday's semifinal opponent, Des Moines Menace, have been, well, menacing. They're unbeaten in 14 matches with 13 wins and one draw. Lansing, on the other hand, has seven wins, five draws and two losses.

Jones' focus during this Lansing United season was on bettering his leadership and communications skills on the field.

"Just working on my touches, turning and keeping the ball tight," Jones said.

To Jones' credit, his self-motivation in improving all facets of his game means that Miller only has to do so much to get the most out of him.

"DeJuan progresses himself," Miller said. "I just try to help show him the way, give him little things here and there. The thing he's maybe grown the most is being a bit more patient and not feeling he has to do it on his own.

"He's been forcing it in the past and he's trusting his teammates and setting guys up and being really committed on the defense side."

"We look at this team and we are blessed with attacking talent," Miller said. "We've been rotating them through to make sure they're fresh and I think our squad is at a really good place. Those guys have done the business for us this year. We're calm, we're steady, we have a good plan and the guys have trained exceptionally well the last two days."

MSU standout DeJuan Jones, No. 7, plays in the second half for Lansing United against the Michigan Bucks on Friday, June 22, 2018.
Graham Couch, Lansing State Journal

If Lansing is to pull off the upset, its "road warrior" mentality will have to show once again. United has been exceptional on the road, going 5-1-1 during the regular season.

"I don't know what it is, but the guys have really responded," said midfielder Kyle Carr. "Maybe just a test to our camaraderie and how much this team really bonds. We're excited about getting on the road again and having another week to hang out."